Hi group,
I am a new member and new to wine making. For the past three weeks I have studied wine making like a mad man, so I can relate... that's about all I can do at this point.
Reason for my interests? I really do love wines, dry, especially the dark, heavier red varietals and red blends. I also enjoy a nice glass of New Zealand Sav Blanc. I spend between $150 and $200 per month on wine with about half that going for everyday box wine. The balance goes to $10 to $14 bottled wine, which we drink on the weekends and special occasions.
My problem is that every once in awhile I get to drink a better wine. You know, relatively speaking, something in the $30 to $50 range and/or something 10 years old. I have gotten to the point where I am really getting tired of boxed wine altogether and even of much of the $10 to $14 wine. Guess I am getting spoiled, huh?
What is a guy to do... well, I got to brain-storming and thought, "Maybe I could start making my own wine and have a better wine for the price." My issue here is that I really don't have a feel for the quality of wine a good kit will make, assuming I do a good job and make the kit the way it is intended, of course.
This issue was partially put to rest last Saturday evening (01/16/10), when my wife and I had dinner at the home of a really nice couple we meet at the wine making store. They understood my confusion, so invited us for dinner. (How special is that? !!!) They gave us samples of four of their own homemade wines:
1) an apple wine.
2) a black cheery wine
3) a Super Tuscan
4) a RJS Brunello (Don't know which kit is was exactly)
The first two were sweet, of course, but seemed, with my inexperience in fruit wines, to be OK. Would be nice on a warm summer day.
The Super Tuscan was about 1 yr old, but tasted chemically to me. To tell the truth, it seemed to support my fears of what a wine kit might produce.
However, the 2 yr old Brunello was really nice and smooth. Also, we sampled a 6-month old version of the same Brunello and I could hardly believe the difference! The young one was more acidic and rough; didn't even seem like the same wine.
All that said, I am still not sure what to expect, but I am about ready to try anyway. I figure the best way to get the best in kit-form is to buy something all juice. I am sure there are exceptions but it also seems that the better (expense-wise) kits, within a given producer's line, should produce better wines. Yes, I am sure all of you have your favorites at many different price levels.
I would like to try the MM Meglioli series. I am interested in trying the amarone and/or the barolo, neither of which I have ever tasted. However, I went to the liquor store to buy a sample of each, only to discover they were each over $60 a bottle. ... I still haven't tasted either.
Amarone and barolo sound great on paper... what do you think, considering I like reds like Cab sav. and sarah; not much on pinot noir? I also especially enjoy red blends.
Any advice would be appreciated.
No more boxed wine!!!
I am a new member and new to wine making. For the past three weeks I have studied wine making like a mad man, so I can relate... that's about all I can do at this point.
Reason for my interests? I really do love wines, dry, especially the dark, heavier red varietals and red blends. I also enjoy a nice glass of New Zealand Sav Blanc. I spend between $150 and $200 per month on wine with about half that going for everyday box wine. The balance goes to $10 to $14 bottled wine, which we drink on the weekends and special occasions.
My problem is that every once in awhile I get to drink a better wine. You know, relatively speaking, something in the $30 to $50 range and/or something 10 years old. I have gotten to the point where I am really getting tired of boxed wine altogether and even of much of the $10 to $14 wine. Guess I am getting spoiled, huh?
What is a guy to do... well, I got to brain-storming and thought, "Maybe I could start making my own wine and have a better wine for the price." My issue here is that I really don't have a feel for the quality of wine a good kit will make, assuming I do a good job and make the kit the way it is intended, of course.
This issue was partially put to rest last Saturday evening (01/16/10), when my wife and I had dinner at the home of a really nice couple we meet at the wine making store. They understood my confusion, so invited us for dinner. (How special is that? !!!) They gave us samples of four of their own homemade wines:
1) an apple wine.
2) a black cheery wine
3) a Super Tuscan
4) a RJS Brunello (Don't know which kit is was exactly)
The first two were sweet, of course, but seemed, with my inexperience in fruit wines, to be OK. Would be nice on a warm summer day.
The Super Tuscan was about 1 yr old, but tasted chemically to me. To tell the truth, it seemed to support my fears of what a wine kit might produce.
However, the 2 yr old Brunello was really nice and smooth. Also, we sampled a 6-month old version of the same Brunello and I could hardly believe the difference! The young one was more acidic and rough; didn't even seem like the same wine.
All that said, I am still not sure what to expect, but I am about ready to try anyway. I figure the best way to get the best in kit-form is to buy something all juice. I am sure there are exceptions but it also seems that the better (expense-wise) kits, within a given producer's line, should produce better wines. Yes, I am sure all of you have your favorites at many different price levels.
I would like to try the MM Meglioli series. I am interested in trying the amarone and/or the barolo, neither of which I have ever tasted. However, I went to the liquor store to buy a sample of each, only to discover they were each over $60 a bottle. ... I still haven't tasted either.
Amarone and barolo sound great on paper... what do you think, considering I like reds like Cab sav. and sarah; not much on pinot noir? I also especially enjoy red blends.
Any advice would be appreciated.
No more boxed wine!!!